Trunk



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(No Model.)

' TRUNK.

N0;.'58'7; 48 8. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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F. J. PALIG'A. TRUNK.

No. 587,488. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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F. J. PALIUA. TRUNK,

No .587,488. I Patented Aug. 3,1897,

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

FRANK J. PALIQA, OF RACINE, XVISCONSIN.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 587,488, dated August 3, 1897.

A Application iiled February 28, 1896. Serial No. 581,176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. PALIOA, of Racine, in the county of Racine and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of travelers trunks, sample-cases, and the like in which the cover is arranged to cover the upper margin of the trunk-body at the front and sides thereof to form a rigid overlid construction, and in which the upper portion of the front wall of the body of the trunk is hinged so as to drop down, for the purpose of rendering the receptacle more convenient of access without reducing its capacity and Without impairing its strength.

The invention also includes certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of the hinges and other trimmings.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved article of the character referred to; and the invention consists in the matters hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a travelers trunk or sample-case embodying my invention, the usual trimmings other than those concerned in the present invention being omitted for the sake of clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary viewin perspective of the trunk shown in Fig. 1 from a direction opposite to that of said Fig. 1, showing the trunk closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken 011 line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views similar to those of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, showing a modified form of theinvention. Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of a trunk embodying still another modification of the invention. Fig. 8 is a similar perspective of the upper part of the trunk, showing the same open. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

In said drawings, A designates the lower portion or body of the trunk, and B the hinged lid or cover thereof. The trunk-body A comprises end walls A A, front and rear walls A A and a bottom wall A, which walls are shown herein as made substantially rectangular in outline and form, in connection with the flat-topped lid B illustrated in the present case, a trunk of rectangular shape. It is to be understood, however, that the top wall Bl of the lid B may be conveXly curved or rounded, if so desired, and the upper edges of the end Walls A A correspondingly rounded, so as to produce a barrel or turtle top trunk.

The end walls B B and the front wall 13 of the cover are adapted to fit outside of the corresponding upper margins of the trunkbody, while thetop Wall B of the cover rests directly upon said upper margins. The rear side of the trunk A is, however, extended upward beyond the end and front sides of the trunk-body a distance equal to the thickness of the top Wall of the lid B and the latter is arranged to fit at its rear edge, so as to be flush therewith when the trunk is closed.

The end Walls B of the lid are supported by means of end strips D, secured across the end walls A A and provided at their ends With'the usual corner-clasps D D.

The upper part A of the front wall A outside of which the lid B fits, is made separate from the main lower part and hinged tothe latter so as todrop or fold down outwardly in order to facilitate access to the contents of the trunk.' As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, said hinged portion A is secured to the front wall with its outer surface in the same plane with the inner surface of the main portion of said Wall A the hinged portion being made of proper length to fit at its endsbetween the end walls A A and being prevented from falling inwardly beyonda Vertical position by means of metal clips or a, secured to the front side at each end thereof and arranged to project beyond the ends in such manner as to extend over and engage the end walls A. When thus constructed, it will be obvious that the folding part will form a perfect lock at the upper corners of the trunk, which will, when the trunk is closed, resist any external strain or blow thereon and render the trunk practically as strong and rigid as though the front wall were made of a single piece extending to the same height. It will be obvious that when a tray of rigid construction is used the end clips at a may be omitted, the tray serving in such case to prevent the folding part from folding inward. \Vhen the folding or hinged part A is thus arranged to stand in a different plane and within that of the lower part, the upper edge of said part A of the front wall forms a ledge a which supports the front side 13 of the cover when the latter is closed. The usual valance-strip a is provided,'secured to and extending around the lower edges of the cover and arranged to overlap the joint formed at the meeting line of the cover an d the supporting-ledges when the cover is in closed position.

At its rear edge the lid is connected by hinges C O and C O with the rear wall A of the trunk, the hinges being shown as arranged in this case with their pivotal axes in line with the meeting-point of the outer surface planes of the top and rear walls of the trunk. The hinges G O are of ordinary construction, but as affording additional strength and an economical construction the cornerhinges C O are preferably and as herein shown of a construction adapted to perform the combined function of hinges, corn erbumpers, and strengthening-clasps. Preferably, and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the rear edges of the lid B will be reinforced with an exterior strengthening-strip D, such strip being of special utility when used in connection with a lid arranged to fit against the rear walls of the trunk-body in the manner described, as affording an overlapping cover for the joint thus formed. When such a strip D is used, it will be arranged to overlie the upper leaves of the central strap-hinges O, as shown. The cornen hinges G will, however, be arranged to extend over said strip, so as to perform the function of corner-b u 1n pers, said hinges being constructed as follows:

Each hinge 0 com prises a lower leaf 0, secured against the rear side of the trunk-wall and provided with a right-angled extension or flange c, which embraces and is secured to the end of the strip or cleat D, which forms the ledge on the end wall of the trunk, and an upper leaf 0 secured to the top surface of the lid and also provided with a flange 0 which extends downward upon the end wall of the lid and is arranged to underlap or fit within the upper portion of the flange c of the lower leaf when the lid is in closed position. The end flange 0 of the lower leaf of the hinge extends vertically upward from its point of attachment to the end strip D, which latter is of the same thickness as that of the end wall of the lid to a point nearlyeven with the top surface of the lid, thereby forming, in conjunction with the main body of the leaf, a rectangular socket within which the rear end of the end wall 13 of the lid and overlapping flanges secured thereto are adapted to fit when the trunk is closed.

As shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the end walls B L are made tapering or narrowing from front to rear, and the end strips D D forming the supporting-ledges for the end walls of the cover, are correspondingly inclined at their inner edges to receive the same. In this case also the upper front part A is hinged to the lower front wall A so as to drop down, but is arranged in the same plane with the latter and is constructed to extend outside of and rest against the end margins of the end walls A A. In order to afford such support for the end walls as will prevent them from yielding inwardly, the hinged upper part is shown as provided with right-angled rabbets a CL, with which said end walls A engage. Obviously these rabbets which engage the end walls both at their front edges and inner sides form the equivalent of the construction of Figs. 1, 2, and A front strip D is also secured in this instance across the front side of the body, preferably with its upper edge flush with the line of juncture between the parts A A to form a supporting-ledge for the front wall 13 of the lid, said strip being shown as overlying the lower leaves of the hinges a a In this modification also the strengthening-strip D, secured to the rear edge of the lid of the trunk, (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) is dispensed with and in lieu thereof a valance-strip E is employed. The construction and arrangement of the hinges are in this case substantially like those shown in the prior figures, the central hinges being, however, secured over the valance-strip.

As shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the construction of the trunk is generally like that of the figures previously described, except that in this modification the rear top side of the trunk is provided with an overhanging ledge or fixed part A, and the lid B is hinged to and tits at its rear margin against this ledge. The hinges O O O are so placed that the pivotal axis of the lid will be a short distance back of the joint between the lid and ledge, and a covering strip D is secured to the lid in proper position to overlap and cover said joint when the trunk is closed. The end walls 13 of the lid 13 overlap the end walls of the trunk, as in the other modification, but extend back to the line of juncture of the lid and ledge only, being made somewhat beveling at their rear ends, as shown. The flange c of the lower or body leaf of the hinge is correspondingly wider and extended forward farther at its lower end to embrace said lid end, and a filling-block D is placed between the body of the trunk and said flange at the rear of the end piece of the lid, forming in effect an upturned extension of the end strip D.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a trunk having the overlid con- ICC struction is exceedingly rigid and strong. The rear edge of the lid is most perfectly supported and protected by the abutting ledge and interfitting or socket construction of the corner-hinges, while the end and front walls of the trunk are obviously covered and protected by the overlapping lid. It is also to be noted that every corner of the trunk-body is so joined that each side is in itself perfectly supported against external pressure or concussion. This is a feature of importance, inasmuch as it is the common practice in storing trunks in baggage-cars and the like to pile them up upon their sides, this being especiallytrue of barrel-topped trunks. Obviously the lid can afford no substantial support against inward pressure brought to bear on the sides or ends at points below the lid, but in the present construction the sides support each other in such case in a most perfect manner and independently of the cover. At the same time more convenient access may be had to the contents of the trunk, and the trunk may also be opened when standing back against a wall.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a trunk-body, of a lid hinged to the rear wall of the trunk-body and having end and front walls adapted to overlap and fit outside of the end and front walls of the trunk-body, said front wall of the trunk-body being in its part below the front wall of the lid, permanently attached to the end walls of the body and being provided with an outwardly-folding hinged part located above said stationary part and above the lower edge of the front wall of the lid, whereby said hinged part will be entirely covered and protected by the said front wall of the lid.

2. The combination with a trunk-body, of a lid hinged to the rear wall of the trunk body and adapted to overlap and fit outside of the body at the end and front walls of the latter, the front wall of the body having its part Within the cover-flange hinged to fold outwardly and having a ledge at the upper margins of its stationary lower portion on which ledge the lower margin of the coverflange is adapted to rest.

3. The combination with a trunk-body provided with ledges at the outer faces of its end and front walls, of a lid hinged at the, rear wall thereof and adapted to overlap and fit outside of the end and front walls with the lower margins of its flanges in contact with said ledges, said front wall being provided with an outwardly-folding hinged portion above the ledge of the front wall and within the cover-flange.

4. In atrunk, the combination with a trunkbody having external side ledges, of a lid hinged at its rear edge to the trunk-body and constructed to overlap and fit outside of the trunk-body at its front and end walls, and metal plates secured to the rear wall and outer faces of the end walls forming, with the adjacent end walls of the body, sockets to receive the rear ends of the end walls of the lid, substantially as described.

5. In a trunk,the combination with a trunkbody having a portion of its upper front wall hinged to fold outwardly, a lid arranged to fit at its rear margin within the trunk-body and to overlap and fit outside of the trunkbody at itsend and front walls, strips upon the end walls of the trunk-body forming supporting-ledges for the end walls of the lid, and hinges uniting the lid and trunk-body at the upper rear corners of the latter, said hinges being each provided on its body-leaf with a flange which overlaps the end wall of the trunk and forms a socket for the reception of the rear portion of the end wall of the lid, substantially as described.

6. In atrunk, the combination with a trunkbody having a portion of its upper front wall hinged to fold outwardly, a lid arranged to fit at its rear margin within the trunk-body and to overlap and fit outside of the trunkbody at its end and front walls, strips upon the end walls of the trunk-body forming supporting-ledges for the end walls of the lid, and hinges uniting the lid and trunk-body at the upper rear corners of the latter, said hinges being each provided at its body-leaf with a flange which overlaps the end wall of the trunk and forms a socket for the reception of the rear portion of the end wall of the lid, and with a flange on its lid-leaf which overlaps the end wall of the lid and is adapted to underlap and fit within the flanges of the 1 body-leaf when the trunk is closed, substantially as described.

'7. In a trunk, the combination of a trunkbody having a portion of its upper front wall hinged to fold outwardly, a lid arranged to fit at its rear margin Within the trunk-body and to overlap and fit outside of the trunk-' body at its end and front wall, and cleats upon the end walls of the trunk-body forming supporting-ledges for the end walls of the lid, and hinges uniting the lid and trunkbody at the upper rear corners of the latter, said hinges being provided with right-angled flanges at their lower leaves which overlap and are secured to the end cleats and form sockets for the reception of the end walls of the lid, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of February, A. D. 1896.

FRANK J. PALIOA. 

